The Highway 23 Coalition is proud to share an exciting update on a critical road construction project that’s currently underway along Highway 23 and Highway 71 near Raymond and Svea. These improvements mark another milestone in our ongoing mission to enhance safety, improve traffic flow, and support economic development along the Highway 23 corridor.
What’s Happening at Raymond and Svea?
In Raymond, MnDOT crews are hard at work constructing a dedicated left-turn lane on Highway 23 at County Road 1 (CR 1). This addition will benefit both eastbound and westbound drivers by reducing crash risk and alleviating traffic congestion at this busy intersection. The current work involves material placement and topsoil restoration, with paving anticipated around May 30, 2025, pending rail replacement and final coordination.
In Svea, a similar safety improvement is on deck. Crews will be installing left-turn lanes on Highway 71 at CR 3, serving both northbound and southbound traffic. This portion of the project will begin after Raymond’s upgrades are completed. Right now, utility coordination is underway to start pipe installation.
Detours are in place for both areas to ensure safety and minimize disruption:
- Raymond Vehicle Detour: Hwy 23 > CR 5 > CR 3 > 135th St > back to Hwy 23
- Raymond Truck Detour: Hwy 23 > CR 5 > Hwy 7 > back to Hwy 23
- Svea Detour: Hwy 71 > Hwy 23 > CR 5 > Hwy 7 > back to Hwy 71
How This Project Fits Into a Bigger Vision
This isn’t just about pavement and paint—it’s part of the Highway 23 Coalition’s long-term mission to create a safer, more efficient transportation route across southwest and central Minnesota. By advocating for consistent investment and strategic upgrades along the corridor, the Coalition helps communities thrive with safer roads, better connections for commerce, and reduced travel times.
These turn-lane improvements may seem small, but they’re life-saving infrastructure changes. Intersections like those at Raymond and Svea are high-risk areas, and turn lanes significantly reduce rear-end collisions and improve traffic flow.
Why This Matters
Every improvement made along Highway 23 is a direct result of collaboration between local stakeholders, MnDOT, and the Highway 23 Coalition. Projects like these showcase what’s possible when communities come together to champion safer roads.